Starter keeps shorting against the block

[Kevin71]

I have a 440 with a magnum 360 starter on it.  Works well but after a couple of cranks it is up against the block shorting out and killing the battery.  I have tried the wire relocators to the front of the starter to get them away from the block but damn if it didn't happen again.  I have schumaker shorty headers.  I am at my witts end with this.  any suggestions on a different starter?

[jimynick]

How in the hell is the starter moving??! If it's got it's two attaching points properly bolted together I don't see how it could move. AND, shorting out against the block is dangerous! 6-700 amps down a smallish cable is a recipe for a fire. Be careful! 

[Kevin71]

It only has to move a 1/8 inch or less. 

[jimynick]

While that figure makes me shake my head, it shouldn't move- period! What is so close to the block? The cable and lug? Trim the lug. Push comes to shove, change the starter for an oem spec'd one. Any way you cut it, do what you have to do to avoid a dead short OR, buy lots of fire extinguishers and make sure your comprehensive insurance is paid up to date. Good luck

[Kevin71]

You have any suggestions on a starter?  I tired one you are can clock in about 3 different ways and none would work with headers. 

[jimynick]

On my small block Challenger, I've got a cheap set of headers and a stock, oem starter and nothing touches. The mini starters are supposed to be even smaller and less prone to interfering, so I don't know what to say. Have you been to ebodies.org? There's a large contingent from here, over there and perhaps someone could shine some light on your problem. 

[Kevin71]

Well I went back and looked at this thing and I can't see where it is touching now.  So I starting to think something else could be draining the battery.  The magnum starter has a larger hole on the top mounting hole which is larger than the bellhousing.  So you have to use a 7/16" bolt to get thru the bell housing.  This would allow the starter after several crankings to shift a little and all it takes is about a 1/16 of a inch to hit the block.  I took a piece of steel tubing drilled it out for the 7/16" bolt and and used like collar to eliminate the space.  It worked great and the car cranked about 8 times and drove it around probable 20 miles.  So maybe the battery is not holding a charge.  I charged the battery yesterday and hooked it back up.  Car is cranking fine now.  I felt along the wires to see if it is heating up and everything is cold.  So if it shorting now against block certainly the power line is going to heat up.  Battery is in the trunk on this car with a #1 ga cable to the starter.

['Cuda Hunter]

The sleeve was the problem.  I think most shorty starters have the sleeve installed already.

Glad you figured it out.  Makes a bunch of sense now.